Homeopathy Suggested For COVID-19 Prevention (Copy)

Daily Guide Network

10/03/2020

© Provided by Daily Guide Network

Dr. Michael Kyeremateng

Homeopathic medicine specialist at the C4C Homeopathic Hospital, Dr. Michael Kyeremateng, has suggested the use of homeopathy medicine as a means of preventing Coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to Dr. Kyeremateng, countries like India are using this alternative form of medicine as a preventive tool against the deadly COVID-19.

Dr. Kyeremanteng, who happens to be a product of Indian alternative medicine education, believes that the use of homeopathy medicine by the Government of Ghana will go a long way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

He said the effectiveness of homeopathic preparations was disputed within medical science but India, which was noted as the hub of Homeopathy, had proven to the world how powerful homeopathic treatments were.

The Indian government’s Ministry of AYUSH, which promotes alternative medicine systems in the country, released a health advisory on January 29 that advocated the use of homeopathy and traditional remedies, such as Indian systems of medicine, to ward off infections of the newly circulating novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

This includes the use of a homeopathic preparation called Arsenicum album 30C and two drops of sesame oil in each nostril each morning for prevention and Unani medicines (treatments based on the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen) to mitigate symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

India’s government has promoted pseudoscientific homeopathic practices in its effort to prevent the spread of the mysterious new COVID-19, which has killed over 100 people.

The step taken by the Indian government, according to Dr. Kyeremanteng, a graduate of the College of Practical Homeopathy with Licentiate in Homeopathic Medicine from London in the United Kingdom, was worth emulating and the best way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.

The 2019-nCoV has killed more than 3500 people and infected over 105,000 according to reports – the majority in mainland China.

India is not currently among the countries dealing with cases of the virus, dubbed 2019-nCoVA, which includes the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia and South Korea.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/homeopathy-susggested-for-covid-19-prevention/ar-BB10ZwL1

Homeopathy Suggested For COVID-19 Prevention (Copy)

Daily Guide Network

10/03/2020

© Provided by Daily Guide Network

Dr. Michael Kyeremateng

Homeopathic medicine specialist at the C4C Homeopathic Hospital, Dr. Michael Kyeremateng, has suggested the use of homeopathy medicine as a means of preventing Coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to Dr. Kyeremateng, countries like India are using this alternative form of medicine as a preventive tool against the deadly COVID-19.

Dr. Kyeremanteng, who happens to be a product of Indian alternative medicine education, believes that the use of homeopathy medicine by the Government of Ghana will go a long way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

He said the effectiveness of homeopathic preparations was disputed within medical science but India, which was noted as the hub of Homeopathy, had proven to the world how powerful homeopathic treatments were.

The Indian government’s Ministry of AYUSH, which promotes alternative medicine systems in the country, released a health advisory on January 29 that advocated the use of homeopathy and traditional remedies, such as Indian systems of medicine, to ward off infections of the newly circulating novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

This includes the use of a homeopathic preparation called Arsenicum album 30C and two drops of sesame oil in each nostril each morning for prevention and Unani medicines (treatments based on the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen) to mitigate symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

India’s government has promoted pseudoscientific homeopathic practices in its effort to prevent the spread of the mysterious new COVID-19, which has killed over 100 people.

The step taken by the Indian government, according to Dr. Kyeremanteng, a graduate of the College of Practical Homeopathy with Licentiate in Homeopathic Medicine from London in the United Kingdom, was worth emulating and the best way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.

The 2019-nCoV has killed more than 3500 people and infected over 105,000 according to reports – the majority in mainland China.

India is not currently among the countries dealing with cases of the virus, dubbed 2019-nCoVA, which includes the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia and South Korea.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/homeopathy-susggested-for-covid-19-prevention/ar-BB10ZwL1

4 At-Home Homeopathic Treatments article from GOOP.com (Copy)

https://goop.com/wellness/health/4-at-home-homeopathic-treatments/

4 At-Home Homeopathic Treatments

In some countries outside the United States, homeopathic remedies are the first line of defense against ailment, from the common cold to bruising to muscle pain. And since they offer such a gentle but effective path to healing, they’re a great starting point for anyone dipping their toes into alternative medicine—that, and the fact that they’re easy to find, safe to self-treat, and inexpensive. Dr. Ellen Kamhi, a long-time herbalist and holistic nurse (she also leads incredible trips that explore ancient healing arts in indigenous cultures), has been treating illnesses big and small with homeopathics for more than 40 years. Below, her favorite go-to treatments and the essential ingredients for an at-home homeopathy first-aid kit.

A Q&A with Dr. Ellen Kamhi

Q

What is homeopathic medicine?

A

The term homeopathic medicine refers to a group of remedies based on the work of Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician who is considered the father of homeopathy.

Hahnemann founded homeopathy in the late 1700s, and today, an estimated 500 million people worldwide receive homeopathic treatment; in Britain, homeopathy enjoys royal patronage. Homeopathy is now practiced according to two differing concepts: In classical homeopathy, only one single-component remedy is prescribed at a time, in a potency specifically adjusted to the patient; the physician waits to see the results before prescribing anything further. In complex homeopathy, a prescription may involve multiple substances given at the same time. This is more of a broad ‘shot-gun’ approach, and is often used to deal with acute situations, such as an upset stomach, rather than a deeper ongoing issue, such as chronic digestive difficulties.

Homeopathy functions on the premise of “like cures like”—a concept very foreign to conventional medicine. In this concept a homeopathic remedy is used for an individual who is exhibiting the symptoms that the remedy would actually cause in a healthy person. For example, in healthy individuals, cutting an onion often elicits a response that involves a runny nose and tears. Therefore, the homeopath would use a homeopathic preparation of onion (Allium Cepa) for an individual who is exhibiting these symptoms, even though it may be caused by a mild allergy or respiratory condition.

Q

How is homeopathy different from herbal medicine?

A

Homeopathy is completely different than herbal medicine. Homeopathic remedies often use an herb as the starting material, but some remedies also use a mineral or other substance as the starting material. An example is the homeopathic remedy Carbo vegetabilis (Carbo veg.), which is prepared using charcoal and is used to help digestive issues such as indigestion and intestinal gas, as well as other health complaints.

In herbal medicine, the actual plant is the medicine. The amount of plant material can be identified, measured and analyzed in the herbal preparation.

In homeopathy, the original substance is diluted many times and succussed (shaken) through a complex preparation process. Most practitioners use premade homeopathic remedies that are either sold in their office or in pharmacies, or health food stores, though they can also be made by hand. In homeopathy, the end product contains “energy,” but no molecules of the original substance due to the dilution process. The fact that homeopathics function on an energetic basis is a major reason that so many naysayers claim quackery, despite countless clinical studies proving otherwise. The mechanism of action that gives homeopathics their power is complex, and experts are now studying quantum physics and the science of non-locality to more completely understand how homeopathics work.

Q

Are there any ailments that respond particularly well to homeopathic treatment? Vice versa?

A

Homeopathy is used around the world for every kind of health imbalance. Mixed homeopathics really shine when it comes to first-aid home remedies, such as stopping a cold or flu in its tracks, or for mild traumatic injuries.

Classical homeopathy administered by an experienced practitioner can make a big difference in deep-seeded, long-term chronic health challenges. It’s been known to assist in a protocol to heal and reverse arthritis, and it’s also helpful with mental health issues like depression.

When you consider life-threatening diseases such as cancer, knowledgeable practitioners may use homeopathy in concert with conventional medicine. Homeopathic medicine can be used as a palliative adjunct, particularly to counter the side effects such as nausea of conventional treatments like chemotherapy.

Q

What should a patient expect at a consultation with a homeopathic doctor?

A

Many health providers offer consultations in homeopathic remedies. They may be an M.D., D.O., chiropractor, herbalist, nurse, or other kind of practitioner. If the provider is offering single-dose constitutional homeopathy, the patient will be interviewed extensively, usually for over 2 hours, to allow the provider to determine the one remedy that would help to balance a chronic, ongoing situation. If the patient seeks help with an acute condition, and the practitioner is offering a complex homochord (a blended remedy that takes more of a shotgun approach at treatment), the recommendation will be based on the immediate condition. An acute recommendation can typically be made very quickly.

Q

How can you find a homeopath, and are there tricks to identifying a good one?

A

There are various homeopathic societies that many professional homeopaths may belong to, such as the North American Society of Homeopaths. They can be contacted to find a homeopath in your area, and anyone on their registry will have gone through extensive certification to be recognized. Asking friends and family for recommendations is another good way to go.

Homeopathic remedies are typically very affordable, and many minor ailments can be self-treated. Homeopathy has a high safety record, with a very low rate of adverse effects.

One possible side effect is called aggravation—it can happen if someone’s particularly sensitive or if the incorrect remedy is mistakenly chosen. Symptoms of aggravation could be a runny nose or a temporary rash.

Q

Can homeopathic treatments coexist with conventional treatments?

A

Homeopathic treatments blend excellently with conventional pharmaceuticals and other conventional treatments. They can be extremely helpful to counteract the negative side effects of conventional interventions.

Q

Any quick-fixes that we should all have in our medicine cabinets?

A

The four treatments are good basics to get started with, and really emphasize the areas where homeopathy shines:

#1: FOR FLUOscillococcinum

Oscillococcinum has been shown in clinical trials to help reduce the severity and shorten the duration of flu-like symptoms (1, 2). It works rapidly, with 63 percent of patients showing “complete resolution” or “clear improvement” at 48 hours.*1 In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the recovery rate within 48 hours of treatment was significantly greater in the group that received the active drug than in the placebo group.†2 Unlike other flu medicines, Oscillococcinum does not cause drowsiness or interact with other medications. It’s available at most pharmacies, natural food stores, and supermarkets. It works best when taken early, so I recommend keeping a bottle in your medicine cabinet and taking it at the first signs of flu-like symptoms.

*Versus 48% in the placebo group, P=0.003; †P=0.03.

#2: BRUISES, PAIN, SWELLINGArnica

Arnica is a common homeopathic remedy that can make a black-and-blue mark disappear before your eyes, as well as reduce swelling. I used it constantly for my children, now 41 and 38, when they had a sports ‘mishap’. There are several published studies that show arnica to be very effective for pain and swelling (3, 4, 5, 6). It can be taken as an oral homeopathic or as a topical cream.

#3: TRAUMAGelsemium, Hypericum, and Arnica

The combination of three single remedies, gelsemium (for headaches and flu with muscle pain), hypericum (helpful for nerve injury—known as St. John’s Wort in herbal medicine), and arnica (see above), is something people should keep on hand for any kind of trauma. It’s particularly great for surgeries that are planned in advance. Take one pellet of each daily for three days before the incident, and then take three pellets of each three times per day for one week following the incident. Clinically, I’ve seen this combination reduce suffering because there’s less swelling and less inflammation.

#4: GRIEF & EMOTIONAL UPSETIgnatia amara

Ignatia amara can be a wonderful support during times of loss. It applies for all kinds of loss, from ended relationships, loss of a job, a move, and even the loss of a friend or family member. I always recommend that patients take ignatia on the weekends, because there’s one potential side effect. Often we stuff the feelings of a loss under the surface—if you take ignatia, as part of the release process, you may experience revisiting the deep grief that was often not addressed during the time of the loss event. Ignatia may bring all those feelings back up to the surface, so you can release it, find resolution, and then move on. Therefore, it may be useful to take it when you have a bit of time and space to face emotional release.

A HOMEOPATHIC FIRST-AID KIT

If you’re ready to go all-in, Ellen recommends equipping every home with a homeopathic first aid kit, which should include a quick and easy reference guide like the one below.

COLD & FLUSymptomsTreatmentCold And Fever (with Sudden Onset)Aconitum NapellusCoughSpongia TostaRunny NoseAllium CepaCough (with Mucus In Chest)Antimonium TartaricumDry Cough And Arthritis PainBryonia AlbaFever And InflammationFerrum PhosphoricumCough And Runny NoseHepar Sulphuris Calcareum Pulsatilla NigricansSore ThroatMercurius VivusCough And Sore ThroatPhosphorus

SWELLING & IRRITATIONSymptomsTreatmentBites, Stings, And SwellingApis MellificaBruising And Muscle SorenessArnica MontanaFever And InflammationBelladonnaBladder IrritationCantharisBites, Stings, And Minor Puncture WoundsLedum Palustre  ArthritisRhus ToxicodendronSprains And TendonitisRuta GraveolensRashes And EczemaSulphur

CRAMPS & SORENESSSymptomsTreatmentTeethingCalcarea PhosphoricaTeething And IrritabilityChamomillaMenstrual CrampsMagnesia Phosphorica

UPSET STOMACHSymptomsTreatmentDiarrheaArsenicum AlbumNauseaCarbo VegetabilisNausea And VomitingIpecacuanhaIndigestion And NauseaNux VomicaDiarrhea With VomitingVeratrum Album

Ellen Kamhi, PhD, RN, AHG, AHN-BC, The Natural Nurse®, is an author, radio host and medical school instructor. She offers online courses in Natural Health Career Counselling, and specific topics in Natural Health Care.

(1) Papp R, Schuback G, Beck E, et al. Oscillococcinum in patients with influenza-like syndromes: a placebo-controlled, double-blind evaluation. Br Homeopath J. 1998;87:69-76.

(2) Ferley JP, Zmirou D, D’Adhemar D, Balducci F. A controlled evaluation of a homeopathic preparation in the treatment of influenza-like syndromes. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1989;27:329-335.

(3) Otto Knuesel, Michel Weber and Andy Suter. “Arnica montana gel in osteoarthritis of the knee: An open, multicenter clinical trial” Advances in Therapy Volume 19, Number 5, 209-218, DOI: 10.1007/BF02850361, 2002.

(4) Robertson A, Suryanarayanan R, Banerjee A. “Homeopathic Arnica montana for post-tonsillectomy analgesia: a randomised placebo control trial.” Homeopathy Jan; 96(1):17-21, 2007.

(5) R. Widrig, A. Suter, R. Saller & J. Melzer. “Choosing between NSAID and arnica for topical treatment of hand osteoarthritis in a randomised, double-blind study”. Rheumatology International 27 (6): 585-91, 2007.

(6) Seeley BM, Denton AB, Ahn MS, Maas CS. “Effect of homeopathic Arnica montana on bruising in face-lifts: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.” Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery Jan-Feb; 8(1):54-9, 2006.

The views expressed in this article intend to highlight alternative studies and induce conversation. They are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of goop, and are for informational purposes only, even if and to the extent that this article features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.
A previous version of this article stated that in most countries outside the United States, homeopathic remedies are the first line of defense against ailment, from the common cold to bruising to muscle pain. It has been updated that in some countries, homeopathics are a first line of defense.

As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. (Copy)

Healing Modality

Through pandemic, Indigenous creators film documentary about the parallels of homeopathy and traditional methods for holistic healing on Navajo Nation Donald Denetdeal is the primary consultant for the documentary on the Navajo holistic perspective of healing. | Jai Antonio

By Katherine Lewin

| September 29

Help keep local journalism fighting for you. Donate today to Friends of the Reporter.

 

As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. Its focus is even more relevant in today's modern pandemic life: the striking parallels between homeopathy and traditional Navajo healing practices and how homeopathy could be used as another mode of healing on the reservation.

Hózhóogo Iiná—Homeopathy for Indigenous America, directed and produced by Leahn Cox and funded by donations to GoFundMe and a John Pinto Grant from the New Mexico Film Office, is both a personal and professional endeavor.

Cox is a member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in Gallup, though she now lives and works in Santa Fe. Her upbringing as a Diné woman and her experience and education in homeopathy and other healing arts drove her to start the project, which she plans to screen in chapter houses across the Navajo Nation, as well as in Albuquerque and border towns.

"I definitely have had interest in bringing homeopathy and making it more available in places with limited access to these types of alternative resources, particularly now in the Navajo Nation," Cox tells SFR. "I have been trying to offer [homeopathy] where I live, where I'm from, and to family members. But there's so much confusion and so that's one reason the film, I think, could put it in terms of understanding it in the sense of talking about ancient Indigenous knowledge."

Read more

x

The GoFundMe has raised $2,475 of a $20,000 goal. The state grant named after a late Navajo senator gave the project $5,000, which has funded the bulk of the work. Cox aims to raise at least another $5,000 to pay for an animator for a portion of Hózhóogo Iiná. She also hopes to turn it into a larger project where she explores the use of homeopathy in other Indigenous communities across North America.

Germans developed homeopathic medicine over 200 years ago, and based it on two main premises: that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people and that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The medicines used in homeopathy come from plants, animals and minerals.

The fundamentals of homeopathy tie in neatly with Navajo traditional healing practices, Cox says.

"Homeopathy is about this vibrational signature of substances in the environment and you take it and inspire your own vitality to heal," Cox says. "So through ancient knowledge you have…this understanding there's an inner spirit form in our environment and that when you really understand that you use that knowledge for healing."

Cox interviews several people in Hózhóogo Iiná to get the connection across to viewers. Donald Denetdeal, one of the interviewees, is also the primary consultant for the project on the Navajo holistic perspective. Denetdeal is a retired professor of Navajo Studies from Diné College. In the documentary, he discusses the Navajo idea that an inner spirit existing within everything in nature is what's doing the healing, just as homeopathy recognizes an energy form in plants and other elements.

But Hózhóogo Iiná is about more than just the parallels between the two healing modalities, one formed many thousands of miles away and another here in the Southwest. The documentary intends to explore, in a practical way, the potential of the use of homeopathy on the Navajo Nation as well as to increase Indigenous peoples' interest in their own traditional healing.

"In this time of increasing health inequality and especially now, in quarantine, we have had to start thinking of utilizing the wisdom of our heritage when it comes to healing our communities," says project photographer and editor Dax Thomas, whose heritage is of Acoma and Laguna pueblos and who now lives and works in Laguna Pueblo.

"With homeopathy there is an inherent respect for nature and a holistic perspective that is certainly compatible with our traditional methods of healing. It could provide safe and effective solutions, especially in our rural areas where there are less options and a primary reliance on [Indian Health Service]. It supports self sufficiency—as we return to healing with nature around us—using
herbs, prayers."

As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. (Copy)

Healing Modality

Through pandemic, Indigenous creators film documentary about the parallels of homeopathy and traditional methods for holistic healing on Navajo Nation Donald Denetdeal is the primary consultant for the documentary on the Navajo holistic perspective of healing. | Jai Antonio

By Katherine Lewin

| September 29

Help keep local journalism fighting for you. Donate today to Friends of the Reporter.

 

As the spread of COVID-19 has slowed its burn through the Navajo Nation, several Indigenous filmmakers and creators have managed to complete part of the production of a documentary. Its focus is even more relevant in today's modern pandemic life: the striking parallels between homeopathy and traditional Navajo healing practices and how homeopathy could be used as another mode of healing on the reservation.

Hózhóogo Iiná—Homeopathy for Indigenous America, directed and produced by Leahn Cox and funded by donations to GoFundMe and a John Pinto Grant from the New Mexico Film Office, is both a personal and professional endeavor.

Cox is a member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in Gallup, though she now lives and works in Santa Fe. Her upbringing as a Diné woman and her experience and education in homeopathy and other healing arts drove her to start the project, which she plans to screen in chapter houses across the Navajo Nation, as well as in Albuquerque and border towns.

"I definitely have had interest in bringing homeopathy and making it more available in places with limited access to these types of alternative resources, particularly now in the Navajo Nation," Cox tells SFR. "I have been trying to offer [homeopathy] where I live, where I'm from, and to family members. But there's so much confusion and so that's one reason the film, I think, could put it in terms of understanding it in the sense of talking about ancient Indigenous knowledge."

Read more

x

The GoFundMe has raised $2,475 of a $20,000 goal. The state grant named after a late Navajo senator gave the project $5,000, which has funded the bulk of the work. Cox aims to raise at least another $5,000 to pay for an animator for a portion of Hózhóogo Iiná. She also hopes to turn it into a larger project where she explores the use of homeopathy in other Indigenous communities across North America.

Germans developed homeopathic medicine over 200 years ago, and based it on two main premises: that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people and that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The medicines used in homeopathy come from plants, animals and minerals.

The fundamentals of homeopathy tie in neatly with Navajo traditional healing practices, Cox says.

"Homeopathy is about this vibrational signature of substances in the environment and you take it and inspire your own vitality to heal," Cox says. "So through ancient knowledge you have…this understanding there's an inner spirit form in our environment and that when you really understand that you use that knowledge for healing."

Cox interviews several people in Hózhóogo Iiná to get the connection across to viewers. Donald Denetdeal, one of the interviewees, is also the primary consultant for the project on the Navajo holistic perspective. Denetdeal is a retired professor of Navajo Studies from Diné College. In the documentary, he discusses the Navajo idea that an inner spirit existing within everything in nature is what's doing the healing, just as homeopathy recognizes an energy form in plants and other elements.

But Hózhóogo Iiná is about more than just the parallels between the two healing modalities, one formed many thousands of miles away and another here in the Southwest. The documentary intends to explore, in a practical way, the potential of the use of homeopathy on the Navajo Nation as well as to increase Indigenous peoples' interest in their own traditional healing.

"In this time of increasing health inequality and especially now, in quarantine, we have had to start thinking of utilizing the wisdom of our heritage when it comes to healing our communities," says project photographer and editor Dax Thomas, whose heritage is of Acoma and Laguna pueblos and who now lives and works in Laguna Pueblo.

"With homeopathy there is an inherent respect for nature and a holistic perspective that is certainly compatible with our traditional methods of healing. It could provide safe and effective solutions, especially in our rural areas where there are less options and a primary reliance on [Indian Health Service]. It supports self sufficiency—as we return to healing with nature around us—using
herbs, prayers."

Homeopathy and Coronavirus. A proposal by Pr. Vithoulkas (Copy) (Copy)

Homeopathy and Coronavirus. A proposal by Pr. Vithoulkas

26/03/2020

Dear readers,
below you may find a text by Prof. Vithoulkas about the “Advantage of Homeopathy” and his ideas concerning a trial for Homeopathy.

Also you can find the answer of Prof. Vithoulkas regarding the paper of Rajan Sankaran (https://homeopathyplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Homeopathy-for-Coronavirus-Covid-19-Infection-Dr-Aditya-Kasariyans-and-Dr-Rajan-Sankaran.pdf)_about Covid-19  and his views about genus epidemicus.

The advantage of Homeopathy

The advantage of Homeopathy lies in the fact that the diagnosis of the indicated remedy is based on the individual symptoms not in the pathology.
This pandemic is a great opportunity for homeopathy to show the advantage we have over other systems of medicine. Why?
Because conventional medicine has to wait until they have found the cause for the pathology before they can start treating a case.

On the contrary, in homeopathy we take in to consideration the response of the organism to the causative factor (the totality of the symptoms) in order to start the treatment.

Therefore the intervention can be immediate. The totality of symptoms for each patient become the guiding signs for finding the indicated remedy.

Therefore a homeopath can prescribe a remedy with the first manifestation of symptoms and in this way, “preventing” the full development of the pathology (state of pneumonia).

This type of “preventing” has been misinterpreted by some homeopaths who think that we, homeopaths, also have remedies that will be acting like a “vaccine” ! This is a totally wrong perception, homeopathy cannot provide “preventive” remedies with the kind of effectiveness a vaccine may have.

If the right remedy is given in an organism under a minor stress, like when we get a common cold or a simple flu, the organism will reset instantly and will not develop in to a bronchitis or pneumonia. In such a case, a dose of Aconitum or of Arsenicum will work in many cases of simple flu, especially Arsenicum, will act if the body feels very cold. This experience most probably prompted AYUSH to declare the use of Arsenicum. In a way we can say from experience that these two remedies are the genus epidemicus for common colds or simple flu virus, as they will prevent in many cases the further development of the flu going to the deeper parts of the respiratory track.

But for this Covid-19 things are different. This virus acts very strangely as it develops very slowly in the beginning and if finds a weakened immune system, proceeds fast in to destroying the lungs, by creating pulmonary fibrosis, a state that the patient has such dyspnea as if is drowning in water.

That is why I have said that we must be careful in to declaring a remedy, as genus epidemicus.

I have received several proposals so far from several homeopathic centres proposing a different remedy each time that ask to declare it as the genus epidemicus, but there is no substantiation for any of them, except for the proposal of AYUSH that, as I said, is based on past experience of many years but with simple viruses.

It is a pity that no one from the almost two thousands diploma holders of the IACH has received and treated any confirmed case, therefore the detailed information we need in homeopathy in order to make a differential diagnosis is missing.

For all the above reasons we should be reserved in giving out to the public information about the treatment of Covid-19 that is not substantiated. Each one of us we must continue to investigate and try to help our immediate environment.

Prof. George Vithoulkas

19.03.2020

http://www.defenddemocracy.press/homeopathy-and-coronavirus-a-proposal-by-pr-vithoulkas/

Homeopathy combat against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) (Copy)

Z Gesundh Wiss. 2020 Jun 5 : 1–4.

doi: 10.1007/s10389-020-01305-z [Epub ahead of print]

PMCID: PMC7272237

PMID: 32837839

Homeopathy combat against coronavirus disease (Covid-19)

D. Kalliantas,1,2 M. Kallianta,3 and Ch. S. Karagianni1

Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer

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Abstract

Aim

Today, humanity is living through the third serious coronavirus outbreak in less than 20 years, following SARS in 2002–2003 and MERS in 2012. While the final cost on human lives and world economy remains unpredictable, the timely identification of a suitable treatment and the development of an effective vaccine remain a significant challenge and will still require time. The aim of this study is to show that the global collective effort to control the coronavirus pandemic (Covid 19) should also consider alternative therapeutic methods, and national health systems should quickly endorse the validity of proven homeopathic treatments in this war against coronavirus disease.

Subject and methods

With the help of mathematics, we will show that the fundamental therapeutic law on which homeopathy is founded can be proved.

Results

The mathematical proof of the law of similarity justifies perfectly the use of ultra - high diluted succussed solution products as major tools in the daily practices of homeopathy.

Conclusion

It is now time to end prejudice and adopt in this fight against Covid-19 alternative therapeutic techniques and practices that historically have proven effective in corresponding situations.

Keywords: Coronavirus, Covid-19, Infectious disease, Laws, Homeopathy, Pneumonia

Introduction

On the 29th of December 2019 a number of cases with unknown origin pneumonia were admitted to the hospital of Wuhan, in China. This was caused by a novel betacoronavirus, named as coronavirus (2019-nCoV) (Shajeea et al. 2020; Huang et al. 2020). It is an acute infectious disease mainly impacting the respiratory system, which has been found for the first time in human beings (WHO 2020).

Symptoms of Covid-19 are similar to other viral upper respiratory illnesses. Three major severity level phases characterize the coronavirus disease: a mild phase with upper respiratory symptoms, non-severe pneumonia, and severe pneumonia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The main systemic and respiratory symptoms caused by Covid-19 infection are dependent on the age of the patient and the status of the patient’s immune system (Wang et al. 2020abc). The main systemic disorders are fever, cough, fatigue, sputum production, headache, haemoptysis, acute cardiac injuries, hypoxemia, dyspnoea, lymphopenia, and diarrhea. On the other hand, the main respiratory disorders are rhinorrhoea, sneezing, sore throat, pneumonia, ground-glass opacities, RNAaemia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (Hussin and Siddappa 2020). The novelty of the virus rests in its unpredictable strange behavior, although in the early stages of the infection it develops very slowly and behaves like the common viruses; if it finds a weakened immune system, it proceeds severely fast, destroying the lungs, by creating pulmonary fibrosis. At this state the patient has a level of dyspnea as if he is drowning in water. At present, there are no specific antiviral drugs or vaccine against Covid-19 infection for potential therapy of humans. The only option available is using broad-spectrum antiviral drugs, HIV-protease inhibitors that could attenuate virus infection and chloroquine, which has been shown to control the 2019-n Co V infection in vitro (Lu 2020; Chen et al. 2020; Wang et al. 2020abc; Toots et al. 2019). Anti-inflammatory drugs (such as hormones and other molecules), as well as Chinese traditional medicines, such as ShuFengJieDu capsules and Lianhuaqingwen capsules, have also been used (Ji et al. 2020; Ding et al. 2017). All of the drug options come from experience in treating SARS, MERS, or some other new influenza viruses previously, and are aiming to address active symptoms. These drugs above may prove helpful, but their efficacy needs to be further confirmed. The research methodology with regard to traditional or other medicines which are needed in this pandemic is mentioned by others (Lu 2020; Wang et al. 2020abc; Zhang et al. 2020).

In our present work, we will focus upon the logical structure and benefits of homeopathy as a therapeutic system suitable to cope with this pandemic.

Methods

With the help of mathematics, we will show that the fundamental therapeutic law on which homeopathy is founded can be proved.

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Results and discussion

Homeopathy is a natural therapy method and an experimental science. It exploits a main property of nature, that of self-similarity on a change of scale. The term self-similarity is used to show that similarity between the disease and the substantces which under the same conditions present similar behavior must be full and lead to a mathematical identity.

Homeopathy, as a healing method, is based on the Hippocratic ΄΄Similia Similibus Curentur΄΄ therapeutic law. The physician relies on the wholeness of symptoms revealed during the entire evolution of the infection, and prescribes an ultra - high diluted succussed solution product which has been proven to heal similar conditions. This is a great advantage in this timing while Covid-19 disease is in rapid devemopment, because the diagnosis of the indicated ultra-high diluted succussed solution product is based on individual symptoms (if these are very characteristic) or on the totality of symptoms, and not in the pathology.

Established medicine has to wait until the cause for the pathology is found, whereas in homeopathy we take into consideration the response of the organism to the causative factor (the totality of the symptoms) in order to start the treatment. Therefore, the intervention can be immediate and very helpful for the patient.

The totality of symptoms for each patient become the guiding signs for finding the indicated remedy. In that way we can prescribe an ultra high - diluted succussed solution product with the first manifestation of symptoms, preventing the full development of the pathology. Let us not forget that the basic principle is that there are not diseases but patients, and that every patient is a special case. Homeopathic ultra - high diluted succussed medicinal products which are used as remedies come from nature (of plant, animal, mineral nosode origin etc.), naturally manufactured (trituration, dilution, succussion) and with an infinite storage time. They present reverse self-similarity properties with almost all known diseases. Also, as we have demonstrated in our previous work, the physical features — size and granularity — of solid raw starting materials to prepare these ultra high diluted succussed solution products are strongly affected by trituration in lactose, before turning them into homeopathic solutions, and in the final triturated step the materials are transformed into micro/nano scale (Kalliantas et al. 2018; Kalliantas et al. 2017). The validation of the Hippocratic idea that a substance which may cause symptoms to a healthy person can also cure these symptoms was carried out for the first time by S. Hahnemann with Cortex Peruvian fever tree bark. He called this work “drug proving” and he was the first to lay the foundations of the experimental medicine long before the birth of Claude Bernard (Kalliantas 2008).

Let us see how this reasoning–practice can be depicted on a mathematical level theoretically. The value of this footprint helps the logic of documentation–foundation that runs through homeopathy. Let E and E’ be the patient and the prover (a healthy person on whom a homeopathic remedy is tested for effectiveness) respectively.

Patient E.

A = Dynamic operator of the pathogenic cause.

χi = Symptom or symptoms of physical disease which correspond to the alterations of the biochemical kinetics of the organism after the action of A.

χ0 = the normal biochemical kinetics of the organism.

The term “operator” means a symbol, which, when being applied to a function, is transformed into another.

Prover E’.

C = Dynamic operator of the under-examination pathogenic substance.

x′ι

= Symptom or symptoms of the prover which correspond to alterations of the biochemical kinetics of the organism after the action of C.

χ′0

= the normal biochemical kinetics of the prover.

According to the above statement, the patient, before becoming ill, was healthy, and a pathogenic cause had an effect on him. The action of A upon E gives us symptoms. Therefore, it could be said that the symptom or symptoms are the result of the action A and its development on x0 of E. Then, it could be considered that:

xi=Ax0.

1

Here A can be considered to transform x0 into xi (disturbed metabolism). Similarly, if

x′ι

is the same symptom or symptoms in the prover as those of the patient, then this is a result of the C’s action, which is the dynamics of the under-examination pathogenic substance inχ′0, which is the normal biochemical kinetics of the prover.

Then we have

xi′=Cx0′

2

Here C again can be considered to transform x′0 into x′i. Since the patient and the prover are human beings with similar functions (there are no identical organisms), the relationship which connects their biochemical kinetics can take place with the help of an operator, such as B.

Then we have

xi′=Bxi

3

x0′=Bx0

4

Therefore

xi′=Cx0′

2

So (3)

⇒(1)x′i=BAx0

5

From (4)

⇒x′0=Bx0⇒x0=B−1x′0

6

and (5)

⇒x′i=(BAB−1)x′0

and

x′i=Cx′0x′i=(BAB−1)x′0}=>Cx′0=(BAB−1)x′0C=BAB−1

It can be observed that the “operators” C and A which correspondingly represent the dynamics of the pathogenic substance and the dynamics of the pathogenic factor are interrelated with an affine transformation.

The operator B is used to connect two biochemical kinetics, the patient and the prover, in an equality relationship. It could also be noticed that in the equation of operators C = BAB−1, B is presented as the product of itself with its opposite.

Homeopathy is an individualized system of therapy, therefore there is no possibility that one remedy will cure all cases of a specific pathology. However, from the afore-mentioned symptoms, both respiratory and systemic, professional homeopathic physicians could use homeopathic ultra - high diluted succussed solution products in the early stages of pathology such as Aconitum napellus or Arcenicum Album or Eupatorium perfoliatum or Gelsemium or Ipecacuana, in the later stages Bryonia or Phosphorus as the main drugs, and in the final stages Antimonium Tartaricum or Baptisia or Camphor Officinalis. (Vithoulkas 1997; Ghegas 2000; Allen 1995; Boericke 1990; Schroyens 1993). All the ultra - high diluted succussed solution product doses can be given to patients in 200c or 1 M potencies without using any other medications.

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Conclusion

Today, it is imperative that ever-safe medicinal products such as homeopathic ultra - high diluted succussed solutions are tested in this pandemic. Epidemiological research has to be carried out to include homeopathic treatment and compare it to established treatments. Patients should be assigned randomly in two different groups of at least 200–400 individuals, and receive respectively established and homeopathic treatment. The evaluation of the results from both groups could reveal which group has a superior outcome in survival, general health conditions, etc., and to what extent.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no financial or other conflicts of interest in relation to this research and its publication.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7272237/

Footnotes

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Covid 19 Alternative to Vaccine (Copy)

In January 2020, the AYUSH Ministry in India issued a recommendation for prevention of coronavirus transmission. The Ministry recommended that homeopathic Arsenicum album 30C was to be taken once per day for 3 days as a preventative measure.

Israeli homeopath Rakhel Shabi reports on a survey of the use of homeopathy in Israel during the first half year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. (Copy)

https://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/homeopathy-in-israel-during-the-first-half-year-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-report-of-a-survey-trends-and-opportunities/

Israeli homeopath Rakhel Shabi reports on a survey of the use of homeopathy in Israel during the first half year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

A preliminary, exploratory survey encompassing the feedbacks of 10% of the Israeli Homeopathic community investigated the trends and results in treating 907 patients suffering from coronavirus or coronavirus-like symptoms during the first seven months since its local outbreak. Patterns of the use of set protocols vs. individualized remedies selection, the conditions under which vitamins were preferred over homeopathic intervention and the reported results are discussed, along with a short review of the Israeli homeopathic community in the last few decades and the challenges and opportunities it faces during the coronavirus pandemic.

Does anyone possibly still remember that the Olympic Games were originally supposed to take place this past summer? Wouldn’t the very idea of such spectacular mass events utterly just send shivers up and down one’s spine nowadays? Sport addicts and trivia fans can still indulge in a new Olympic sport, i.e. different countries’ success rates in handling the COVID-19 spread. Yes, a table now even reports updates regarding the global “winners” and “losers”.

This article aims at describing patterns of homeopathic intervention during the COVID-19 outbreak and crises that have followed, while shedding some light on the Israeli homeopathic community, its unique status and the new opportunities it may now have. It may be said that global society is transforming before our very eyes, either adapting or perishing under extreme circumstances. A local zoom into the measures taken by a small professional community might be an interesting test case, as they could offer some sustainable models developed during the imposed lockdowns.

Keeping a Delicate Balance

This article is written as Israel has a total of 48,000 COVID-19 patients, 1,195 of which are hospitalized (581 in severe condition) and an overall of 1,196 deceased since the outbreak. The country is emerging from a second nationwide lockdown, imposed in spite of the fact that infection rates demonstrated that only a fraction of Israeli cities were a reason for concern.

The private sector has been intermittently paralyzed for the greater part since the local breakout of COVID-19 in March, and vulnerable groups have been badly damaged – in a time when Israel is coping with a politically unstable period.

It therefore follows that the explosive climate of distrust might nurture nothing but an inevitable, severe decline in public trust towards government policy and a conscious noncompliance with guidelines, which are widely thought to be set primarily by political decision makers.

Israel sadly broke a world record in becoming the first country to re-enter a national lockdown, this one being more strictly enforced by fines, police and army patrolling.

The second lockdown hasn’t included mobile phone tracking and curfews exercised during the first lockdown, which were later deemed unnecessary. This COVID-19 failure, taken in its context means political instability and a population that is distrustful, less cooperative and also more anxious and desperate at times.

Israeli Homeopathic Community in Context

With its 9.2 million citizens and an estimated 29,000 practicing MDs[i], it is estimated that around 400 classical homeopaths are currently practicing in Israel. This number was reached at by crossing numbers of homeopathic software holders[ii]. At present there are 187 paying members in the Israeli Association for Classical Homeopathy (IACH, not to be confused with Prof. Vithoulkas’ IACH). The number was higher in previous decades and the decline can be viewed as part of the global trend.

Background and History

It may be said that the homeopathic seeds first sprouted in Israel in the 1930s, after being imported by Dr. Ya’akov Eric Yarus (1892-1984) and Dr. Eugene Heiman (1910-2002), two immigrants from Germany.

Despite the fact that they had gained a substantial recognition, and yet again in accordance with  homeopathy’s ebb and flow during the 20th century, it wasn’t until the mid-1970’s that a group of homeopaths started studying with Joseph Reves (who also trained in Germany), to form about a decade later the Israeli School of Homeopathy headed by Dr. Chaim Rosenthal.

The first class to have trained there established, upon graduation, the IACH in 1993. The following years saw the soaring of the profession worldwide, and the local community flourished to reach a peak of 4 schools acknowledged by the Association and another three independent programs. Many seminars were being held during that Golden Age, featuring world renowned homeopaths. Despite some promising negotiations with the Higher Education Committee, the 4 year programs, supervised and acknowledged by the IACH, have not been recognized as academic.

To date, all four health service providers in Israel offer their customers homeopathic consultations, and some private insurance plans offer a certain refund for private consultations. In other words, the entire Israeli population, eligible for national health services by law, has some degree of access to homeopathy.

Homeopathic treatment has also been available in outpatient clinics in five leading hospitals. It should be nevertheless stated that such elaborate activity and de-facto recognition does not stem from an acknowledgement by the medical establishment, but relies on ground work made by diligent homeopaths and sheer financial interests of the health service providers.

No laws are in favor of homeopathy nor against it, and the practice is possible owing solely to the Basic Law of Freedom of Occupation. The Ministry of Health’s only rule in this field is with regard to the manufacturing and dispatching of remedies, which is allowed solely in pharmacies (and not private clinics).

The same neutral policy seems to have been applied during COVID-19 times. Unprepared and in shortage of viable solutions, authorities have nevertheless not made any strategic shift with regard to homeopathic interventions in hospitals.

Homeopathy and the First COVID-19 Survey

A recent data-collecting survey explored the patterns of homeopathic treatment during the COVID-19 period. 42 homeopathic practitioners took part in it, the vast majority of which (95%) are members of the Israeli Association for Classical Homeopathy and none is an MD.

As mentioned before, the Association presently comprises of 187 registered practitioners, meaning that the survey covers 1/5 of its members. It is a probable assumption that this sample represents patterns within the entire professional community.

Channels
71% of the respondents provided the treatment on one of the two special, free coronavirus hotlines now operating in Israel – either under the auspice of the Association or the HHNI, part of the international project led by Jeremy Sherr. 78% of the therapists also provided service privately.

Number of Patients
Based on the reports of those 42 homeopaths, a total of 907 people sought homeopathic assistance during the period between March and September. It should be emphasized that 57% of them were verified coronavirus patients, while the rest complained of related and similar pictures, though unverified. 58% of the patients had never contacted a homeopath before.

Communication with medical professionals
Approximately 21% of the respondents reported they cooperated with medical authorities regarding the treatment of the coronavirus symptoms. 56% of those cases were referrals from physicians, 44% were from pharmacists and 33% were from a nursing staff.

Prevention or Treatment
73% of the respondents stated that they had received inquiries from people who were found negative for COVID-19 or who had not been tested yet and just wanted some preventive treatment. In cases of preventive treatment inquiries, 86% of the homeopaths recommended vitamins, and in 42% of the cases the advice was to monitor the condition and treat homeopathically if necessary.

11% of the referrals were made by existing patients who asked for a preventive treatment and were recommended to repeat their ‘chronic’ remedy. It is interesting that in 43% of the cases, the therapists recommended preventive treatment using a given protocol (according to one of the methods published recently, be it Sankaran’s, Sherr’s etc.). Only 9% of the therapists indicated that prevention was not the right method for them, and that conditions should only be treated based on the presence of indicative symptoms.

Verified Cases
95% of the therapists indicated that they also treated cases verified for COVID-19. It is important to emphasize that in many cases, especially on the hotlines, the therapeutic communication was partial and patients were not always fully committed to the process. Treatments were therefore often given in situations that might better be called ‘Corona-like’, as some patients preferred not to do the test but just improve clinically.

Severity of Conditions

A-symptomatic Patients
54% respondents reported they had no a-symptomatic patients.

Patients with a Mild Condition
45% of the patients reported mild symptoms. The criteria for assessing the severity of such a condition (and the following conditions as well) were kindly shared by Jeremy Sherr and his team and include mild fever, muscle and joint pain, dry cough, runny nose, sinus problems, headache, nausea, poor appetite, loss of sense of smell and/or taste, diarrhea, weakness, restlessness or anxiety. In more than two-thirds of such cases (67.5%, to be exact) the result of the homeopathic treatment was defined as ‘excellent’ (score 5/5 on a scale of 1 to 5), and in 27.5% of the cases as ‘very good’ (score 4/5). In other words, in 95% of mild conditions treated by homeopathy, the result was summarized as ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’.

Patients with a Moderate Condition
Half of the therapists reported an ‘excellent’ result of the homeopathic treatment in a moderate condition and in 31.3% of the cases defined the result as ‘very good’ (score 4/5). In other words, in 81% of moderate conditions there seemed to be a very good to excellent improvement with the help of homeopathy. 24.9% of the patients who sought a solution to their symptoms were defined as having a condition of moderate severity. The criteria for assessing the severity as such were high fever, severe muscle and joint pain, severe headache, weakness and severe heaviness, dry cough, significant difficulty in breathing, sticky phlegm that is difficult to expectorate, nausea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell, loss of taste, loss of appetite and general decline.

Patients with a Severe Condition
Overall, 25 patients were reported to have been treated by 1/3 of the homeopaths. The criteria for assessing a condition as severe were damage to the lung tissue, severe pneumonia, deficient oxygen saturation, general collapse, liver problems, renal failure due to dehydration, myocarditis, pericarditis, heart failure or atrial fibrillation that began near diagnosis. Based on the feedback of those who reported treatments in such conditions, the success rate ranges from ‘excellent’ (in 15% of cases) to ‘very good’ (38.5%) and to ‘moderate’ (23.1%). 23% of respondents who treated severe conditions reported not seeing any improvement in the patients’ condition.

In 43% of the cases, treatment of the severe condition lasted up to two weeks, and in 26% of cases up to a month. In 8.7% of cases, treatment lasted up to a week and in other cases patients did not persevere. With regard to patients who were hospitalized due to the clinical severity and later received homeopathic treatment, 38% were hospitalized for a period of up to two weeks, and about 15% were hospitalized for up to a month. The success of inpatient care was defined as ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’ in about 70% of cases.

Patients in Recovery Stages
Nearly half of the homeopaths reported having treated patients at various stages of the recovery process from COVID-19 infection. Recovery in this context meaning a stage in which the condition has already improved before the homeopathic treatment began, yet still involves symptoms such as significant fatigue, significant cough and the like. In total, there were 88 reports of such a condition, out of which a ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’ improvement rate was reported in 85% of the cases.

Patients Re-experiencing the Chronic Condition
Such a stage was defined as a process where the chronic picture is already evident or intermingled with certain COVID-19 symptoms. Homeopathy was given to 59 patients at this stage and the results were assessed as ‘very helpful’ and ‘ excellent’ in 73% of the cases.

Discussion

This survey offers a real-time glimpse into the invaluable potential of homeopathy in times of a major health crisis, and echoes with similar statistics from previous epidemics as early as the beginning of the 19th century[iii]. The current demand for homeopathy in Israel seems to be significantly increased, with as many as 58% more patients calling – certainly something to take into consideration in a challenging era for the profession.

Reported clinical results seem impressive – yet might be interpreted as preaching to the converted. On the one hand, we homeopaths know the potential of the profession – and warmly remember D.A. Dewey’s dramatic documentation of the Spanish Flu period in his “Homoeopathy in Influenza – a Chorus of Fifty in Harmony”. On the other hand, control groups need to be meticulously compared against the reports of homeopaths.

All of these aspects should be viewed in the context of an understanding of the limitations of a retrospective examination. Future surveys might bring up more elaborate data in terms of volume of respondents and the delving into specifics of treatments.

The survey, not being a prospective study, has not used probability sampling technique but rather relied on the homeopaths’ cooperation. It therefore couldn’t use any randomized allocation, nor were there any control groups.

Such control groups require a careful segmentation based on each age and medical background of the patients. Future surveys will also need to delve deeper also into the ongoing results of the coronavirus pandemic and in particular its post-viral phase, which is lately proving to be more significant than previously thought.

Based on the results, recent experience in Israel might contribute to the revival of the profession in showing its efficacy both in acute conditions and its sequelae. Surveys take some know-how, some willingness, an infrastructure for the hotline(s) to offer a homeopathic assistance by professionals and a data collecting person. Its next challenge might deepen the understanding of the homeopathic effect on the coronavirus sequelae, by monitoring the long-term effects after tests confirm the disappearance of the virus.

I wish to thank all the volunteers on the hotlines and to the respondents who shared their experience in that survey. Many thanks to Jeremy Sherr for his willingness to share the criteria for assessing the severity of the coronavirus conditions. Jeremy Sherr is leading a global project to treat the victims of COVID-19 and its Israeli arm is called HHNI.

[i] According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, https://www.cbs.gov.il/en/Pages/default.aspx

[ii] It is difficult to assess whether they practice full time, part time or perhaps have stopped practice.

[iii] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29753299/

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About the author

Rakhel Shabi

Rakhel Shabi RCHom PCH is a Tel Aviv based homeopath, lecturer and editor of the Israeli Association for Classical Homeopathy's Journal. She has been practicing since returning from her post graduate studies with Jeremy Sherr's Dynamis in England in 1998. Rakhel has been teaching homeopathy, be it conducting provings (having participated and organizing a few), sharing her passion for the Organon or teaching Materia Medica. Having worked on the IACH's board for over a decade, she reformulated the guidelines for homeopathy teaching programs. Rakhel also established the first community clinic in Israel, later sharing with colleagues her experience in running such non-profit projects that reach the less privileged communities. She writes extensively for several newspapers and journals and is frequently interviewed on national radio. She's also a graduate with honors from the Psychology department, an Argentinian Tango dancer, an avid cat lover and an amateur silversmith. Visit her site at https://www.rshabi.com/ and consider contributing to Jeremy Sherr's HHA project by purchasing her Lac camelus dromedary proving on his website at https://www.dynamis.edu/provings-from-other-sources/

Indian Authorities Propose Use of Homeopathy to Prevent Coronavirus (Copy)

Critics of the practice say the guidance is irresponsible and could give users a false sense of security.

Alakananda Dasgupta

Feb 7, 2020

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The Indian government’s Ministry of AYUSH, which promotes alternative medicine systems in the country, released a health advisory on January 29 that advocates the use of homeopathy and traditional remedies, such as Indian systems of medicine, to ward off infections of the newly circulating 2019-nCoV coronavirus. This includes the use of a homeopathic preparation called Arsenicum album 30C and two drops of sesame oil in each nostril each morning for prevention, and Unani medicines (treatments based on the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen) to mitigate symptoms of coronavirus infection. While AYUSH cites centuries of practitioners’ experiences with these products as evidence behind its advice, the media and the scientific community criticized the guidance as being counterproductive in dealing with a serious health emergency. 

“It is profoundly irresponsible of the Ministry of AYUSH to endorse homeopathy as this entirely undermines public understanding of science and medicine, and elevates pseudoscience with potentially dangerous consequences,” says David Robert Grimes, an Irish science writer who has published research showing homeopathy to be ineffective, in an email to The Scientist. Grimes has argued that the proposed mechanisms of homeopathy are implausible when analyzed from a physical and chemical perspective, and says that it is not surprising, therefore, that the biological effects of homeopathy cannot be measured in large-scale clinical trials. 

To date, more than 31,000 people in more than two dozen countries have been infected with 2019-nCoV, including three confirmed cases in India. According to the World Health Organization, there is no intervention yet identified that can treat the virus, although a number of studies are underway to find therapeutics and develop a vaccine. 

Using homeopathy as an alternative therapy risks forfeiting effective causative or symptomatic treatments or—if such treatments are not available—creating a false sense of security.

—Edzard Ernst, University of Exeter

Until then, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the only way to prevent infection is to avoid contact with the virus and people who are sick, to wash your hands, and not touch your face. But the Central Council for Research In Homeopathy (CCRH) of the Ministry of AYUSH claims that there are other preventive options. 

Anil Khurana, who heads the CCRH, tells The Scientist that Arsenicum album 30C, a homeopathic solution prepared by diluting aqueous arsenic trioxide until little or no arsenic remains that is used in respiratory disorders and has been in widespread use for more than 220 years with a good safety record, was found to be an effective prophylactic during the swine flu epidemic in India in 2009. A study conducted by Robert Mathie of the British Homeopathic Association and his group, in collaboration with the CCRH, reported in Homeopathy that of the various homeopathic medicines given to patients with swine flu symptoms, Arsenicum album was most successful in reducing fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, and headache. There was no control arm. In another, placebo-controlled trial conducted by the CCRH, homeopathic medicines were also found to reduce flu-like symptoms. 

These results led the CCRH to look to possible homeopathic interventions against the new coronavirus. Before any 2019-nCoV infections had turned up in India, scientists at CCRH collated the clinical features of a recent cluster of cases in China that was published in The Lancet on January 24, which they fed into a tool called the homeopathic repertory. The repertory is a database of historic texts on homeopathy, and when practitioners enter symptoms, the tool fetches the texts’ recommendations on which medicine needs to be given. “Every time we repertorize a patient, we are pretty much consulting all these generations of homeopaths that have contributed to this database,” says Bernado Merizalde, a homeopathy practitioner at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and the prime general secretary of Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis, a homeopathic doctors’ association. By matching the clinical features, the repertory found Arsenicum album 30C to be a suitable fit for the current outbreak. 

See “Where Coronaviruses Come From

The basic premise of homeopathy is that a medicine that produces a set of symptoms when given to a healthy person under controlled settings can be prescribed in a highly diluted form to a diseased person with those same symptoms, explains Kushal Banerjee, a homeopathic physician based in New Delhi. This is what is known as Similia similibus curentur in homeopathic parlance, a Latin phrase that means “like cures like.” Kalyan Banerjee, Kushal’s father and a renowned homeopathic practitioner, says that by boosting the immune system of the body, Arsenicum album can potentially reduce the virulence of the coronavirus, thereby tempering disease intensity.

“We don’t claim 100 percent protection with Arsenicum album. Just taking the medicine will not work,” says Khurana. “All general measures for airborne infections have to be taken.” He further adds that if people get infected, they should promptly seek medical care.

Such caveats do not assuage the concerns of homeopathy’s detractors, who say there is no rigorous scientific evidence to indicate homeopathic remedies can prevent coronavirus infection or mitigate symptoms. “The claim of some homeopaths that homeopathic remedies are effective in treating or preventing coronavirus infections is not based on any evidence at all,” Edzard Ernst, an emeritus professor at the University of Exeter in the UK and a critic of homeopathy, tells The Scientist in an email. Ernst points to a study that found no difference between Arsenicum album and a placebo in preventing fever after vaccination. Other studies in which homeopathy was found to be ineffective include one on acute respiratory tract infections, another on middle ear infections, and yet another on influenza-like illness.

“Using homeopathy as an alternative therapy risks forfeiting effective causative or symptomatic treatments or—if such treatments are not available—creating a false sense of security,” says Ernst. “In any case, it would be a waste of resources.”

See “Scientists Scrutinize New Coronavirus Genome for Answers

Even among proponents of homeopathy, there is disagreement about the best way to prevent the coronavirus. Mitchell Fleisher, the second vice president of the American Institute of Homeopathy, says that the Lancet article that scientists at CCRH used to come up with their advice does not provide enough information on symptoms to make an accurate homeopathic prescription.

He says that perhaps the best way to validate the therapeutic value of homeopathy would be to perform a comparative clinical outcome study of acute coronaviral infection by giving individualized homeopathic medicines to one experimental group and allopathic medicines to another, with a minimum of 250 patients in each group. “A careful and honest, statistical analysis of the study results will speak the scientific truth,” he says.

Countering Fleisher’s proposal, Grimes says that this is completely unethical. “Homeopathy has no plausible mechanism of action, and it is downright irresponsible to suggest it in a trial for a serious potential pandemic. Large scale studies of homeopathy have clearly shown over decades the same result—that it simply does not work,” he says.

Alakananda Dasgupta is a freelance science journalist and physician based in New Delhi, India. Follow her on Twitter @AlakanandaDasg1 or email her at alakanandadasgupta@gmail.com.

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/indian-authorities-propose-use-of-homeopathy-to-prevent-coronavirus-67075